City rehires worker who was fired twice

LOWELL -- A Lowell Regional Water Utility worker who was recently fired for a second time this year has been again rehired by the city.

Jay Malone, a mechanical equipment operator in the Utility's distribution department who was fired for a second time last month, returned to city employment last week.

A source told The Sun Malone had been fired for again allegedly cursing at a superior.

The incident occurred after Malone allegedly refused to do an assignment because a pre-existing condition a superior thought the city had no record of and would therefore not pay Malone for the time, the source said.

City Manager Kevin Murphy said he made the decision rehire Malone a second time after holding a hearing where evidence was presented.

"He made a very passionate and telling statement convincing me that he would be a model employee in the future," Murphy said. "I believed him.

"Any deviation from any rules and regulations in the future would be grounds for immediate termination."

Malone, who is budgeted to make $44,772 this fiscal year, declined to comment in detail on the recent events.

"I love my job and I'm glad to be back," Malone said, referring questions to his union, AFSCME Local 1705.

Corey Robinson, Local 1705's president, did not respond to requests for comment. Keith Rudy, the business agent for the union, declined to comment.

Malone was previously fired in late April for allegedly swearing at then-Executive Director Daniel Lahiff while voicing concerns about worker safety.

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Earlier in the day that the incident in question occurred, Malone had driven to the hospital a co-worker who was injured while working in a trench.

Local 1705 formally objected to the termination through a grievance.

Murphy reduced the discipline to an unpaid suspension and told Malone no more similar incidents would be tolerated.

Lahiff has since been forced to resign for unrelated reasons. Murphy is expected to name his replacement soon.

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